Gas-producer



W. B. CHAPMAN.

GAS PRODUCER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.5.1915.

1,341,044, Patented May 25, 1920.

W. B. CHAPMAN.

GAS PRODUCER.

APPUCATION FILED AUG.5. 1915.

1,841,044, Patlltd May 25, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

, W/TNESSES:

A TTORNE Y W. B. CHAPMAN.

GAS PRODUCER.

APPLICAUON FILED AuG.5. 1915.

1,341,044, Patented May 25,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- ATTORNEY W. B. CHAPMAN.

GAS PRODUCER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.5, 1915.

1,341,044. Patented May 25,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W. B. CHAPMAN.

GAS PRODUCER.

APPLlcfmoN FILED AUG.5, 1915.

1,341,044, Patented May 25, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

MQW

yUNITI-:n sTATEsPATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. CHAPMAN. 0F MOUNT VERNON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO CHAPMANENGINEERING COMPANY, OF` MOUNT VERNON,.OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

GAS4PRODUCER.

`provelnents in (ias-Prmlucers, of which the following is a descriptionin such full, clear, and exact terms as will enable any person skilledin the art to which it pertains to make and use the saine.

M v invention relates to improvements in gas prmlucers which have fortheir primary object to increase generally the mechanical eiiiciency ofthe machine and to make possible a rotary producer of a` larger diameterthan ordinarily, thus providing for the better treatment of the coal andash throughout the operation and therefore higher efiiciency or'gasification.

To this end the invention consists in various novel features ofconstruction and combination of parts which willbe fully set forthhereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying drawings show as examples the preferred embodiments ofmy invention. In these drawings Figure 1 is a vertical section of theprodurer. i

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1, certain partsbeing cut away to show the relatively large opening through the grate. y

` Fig. 3? is a bottom view of one of the plates forming the grate.

Fig. 3" isa central section of the plate shown in Fig. 3.

Fig.` 4 is a sectional elevation of the feeder.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan of the bed on foundation of the producershowing the air distribution and the ash removal means.

Fig. 7 is a cross section on the line 7--7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is detail View showing the guide for the U-shaped agitator.

Fig. E) is a view showing another way of mounting the agitator. and

Fig. 10 is a cross section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Referring to Fig. 1, 15 represents the base Specication of LettersPatent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

Appncation mea August 5, 1915. semina. 43,723.

ot' the producer: the vertical wall of the producer is circular anddivided l1orizon tally into a rotary lower section 16 and stationaryupper section 17 over the latter of whlch afloor 18 and top 19 extend.The upper section 17 is supported by a number of pillars 20 and therotary section 21 is supported on rollers with a spur 23 at the bottompart of the lower section 16. 24 is the usual charging hopper and bellcentrally located in the top 19.

I employ an additional charger which may be used with or independentlyof the hopper 24. This charger comprises a hopper and bell 25 sunken inthe floor 18 with a Vconveyer trough 26 running horizontally into andthrough the wall or' the upper section 17. Within the producer thetrough 26 isopen .at its top as well as at its end and has a partialclosure or obstruction 27 in its upper part at the point of the wall 17over which is an opening and plug 28 for a poker.

At the inner end of the trough 26 a semicircular spreader 29 is formedso that the coal falls loosely over as large an area as possible..

The trough 26 of the feeder has a revolubly driven shaft 44 extendingthrough it and this furnished with a screw blade 45 which is broken at45a under the pokehole 28. The screw 45 by its rotation advances `thecoal through the throat 26 and at the break 45 the coal piles up againstthe dam 27 filling and sealing the throat so that when the bell 25 isopened the gas will not escape. But the rotation of the screw causes thesteady feeding of the coal notwithstanding the breakV in the screw. Apoker (not shown) inserted through the pokehole 28 maybe operatedmanually to break down the darn or arch of coal at the gap 45a in thescrew ,45 in event the coal should pack too tightly at this point. Asshown best in Figs. 4 and 5 the top of the throat 26 within theproduceris open and at one side is a spill board 46 pivoted at its inner end andadjustable vertically by a rod and suitable fastening attachments 47.The screw 45, rotating in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5 willcause the coal to pile up at the side on which the spill` board islocatedl and by adjusting the spill board vertically, the distributionmay be regulated throwing more or less coal into the central portion-o:lthe producer or toward the wall thereof as desired.

rlhe coal lies in the lower rotating sectionl() at approximately thelevel indicated by the broken line. in Fig. l, and l employ an agitator30 to roil the top portion or the top surface of lthe coal. Thisagitator' 3l) is preferably furnished with limbs 3.14 giving the devicea U-shaped form. These limbs are joined to the agitator proper byeouplings 32 which allow the parts to be easily removed from theproducer, new parts to be fitted and also allow the agitator proper 30to be made of larger diameter or of differentshape than the limbs tosecure the necessary amount of effect on the coal. T he agitator s heldstationary, or practically so, against rotary motion and the coal in thelower section 1G rotates against it (the. relation may of course bereversed) and in this way the agitator roils or stirs the top of thecoal. The agitator is never intended to plow deeply through the body ofthe coal or its lower portion, but may be made to descend into the coalto any moderate extent by proper adjustment and proportioning of theparts. Its effect is to keep the surface of the coal level and loosened,fill up blow holes and to prevent the formation and accumulation ofagglomerations or cakes in the coal during the distillation period ofgas making.

The limbs 31 of the agitator are crooked oppositely to each other asshown best at 31 in Fig. 8, and bear against stops 33 (which may bewater cooled) secured in the lower part of the stationary top section17. These stops 33 brace the agitator and its limbs against the twistingeffort and the crooks 31a serve Vto prevent cramping of the limbsagainst the stops 33 and insure free vertical movement of the agitator,notwithstanding the twisting strain thereon. The limbs 31 playvertically in channels 34 in the lining of t-he upper section 17 of theproducer, and at the top of the producer the limbs extend through metalvguides 3G and inclosed in housings 37, allowing free vertical motion ofthe agitator. 38 represents a water pipe which enters one limb 31 (boththe limbs and the agitator proper 30 are hollow) by which water iscaused to circulate through the limbs and agitator and overflow from theother limb. At the upper ends of the limbs they are furnished withcircularlips 39 which prevent the water from trickling down the sides ofthe pipes and reaching the lire through the guides 36 and channels 34.

The guides 36 stand up in the bottoms of the housings 37 so that watermay collect in the housings without passing through the guides and thiswater overflows through openings 40 to chambers 41 in the producer topfrom whence it is carried away by pipes .of the producer.

4i.. These pipes lead to annular water-seal cups 43 in the top of thelower section lt), the cups receiving a. skirt 4G depending from theupper section 1T, making in this way, a. water` seal between theproducer section.

At the bottom of the producer sect-ion lo is an open bottom inwardlytapering bosh or ash hopper 4.7 of metal furnished on its lower edgewith an outwardly located annular water cup -lH and` above this, with anannular water chamber or cup 4f) receiving from a pipe 5() which leadsfrom the cup 4.3. The water Hows from the cup 4S) to the cup i8 andprotects the hopper 4i' after which it enters the ash beams 50 throughopenings 51. in the skirt or hopper. The ash beams have fiat bottoms andinclined upper sides and their ridges or upper edges incline upwardtoward the ends, so that steam pockets will not form. The ash beams arehere shown as four in. number, arranged as a (reek cross withinter-communicatlon at the center and they sweep over the bottom of theproducer. These ash beams need not, of course, be of the exact formshown; it is only essential that they are of such number and form thatthey cause the entire ash bed to sweep over the grate, which will now bedescribed.

At the bottom of the producer and extending elear across it is a flatgrate formed of a number of bent metal plates 52. having projectingplugs 52 separated bydraft openings 52", which overlap alternately underand over each other like tiles in a roof and are so formed in theirengaging edges as to provide passages between them, so that the draftcurrent may pass, (see section lines Fig. 1 and dotted lines Fig, 3).These plates 52 are supported on each other, and the grate thus formedis sustained on circular piers 53 and 54e of which there are three, thetwo designated 53 being under the central part of the grate and theouter pier 5l being at the circumference of the grate. The outer orcircumferential pier 5l has circular water cup (32 therein, in whichdips a skirt forming the water seal between the` producer section 1G andthe base 5G represent air blast or draft current pipes, which enterunder the grate between the piers 53 and 54 to supply the draft currentrespectively to the three chambers formed under the grate by the threepiers. By regulating the current in the several pipes the current in thethree chambers may be regulated and, in this way, distributed as desiredthroughout the whole area of the firebed. This distribution is faYcilitated by the peculiar formation of the grate which with its numerousforaininations insures that the draft reaches every part of the fire.

rlhe openings in the grate are tangential and too smallto allow the ashto pass, es-

pecially while the drat't current is blowii'ig i against it: hence theashes are swept over the grate by the ash beams and the excess ash fallsinto a radial trough 57 provided for it in the concrete or other baseofthe producer. A screw 58 is located in this trough to` advance the ashoutward, the screw carried on a shaft 5S) which has suit able bearingsunder the grate and is rotated by anysuitable gear (30. The ash beamscontinuously fill the trough as fast as the screw` clears it. Toward theouter end of the trough 57 the screw 58 is tapered and over this end aninverted dam 61 is formed leading down to the bottom of a metal cup 62spanning the trough 57 and Vforming a continuation oi the cup 62 formedin the concrete pier 54. The screw reaches up to or very near the pointot' the level of the grate. A l

The cup 62 has a spillway Gi into the trough 57, so that the trough isfilled to the level of its spillway 57a. The cup section 62"L dips intothe water in the trough 57 and makes a seal at this point also. Thesteady biit-slow rotation of the screw 58 removes the ashes from thetrough as they accumulate by forcing theniout through the seal and theashes may be manually scooped from the outer end of the trough `asdesired. The screw crowds the ashes under the darn 61 and, packingthere, they `form an additional barrier `to the` escape `inner ends.This dog is operated by a cam disk 65 on a rotary shaft 66 (see lF ig.7) suitably driven (by means not shown).

The operation of the producer will, it is believed, be apparent topersons skilled in `the art.` The fuel is ignited in the usual way andthe rotation of the section 16 causes both the agitator and ash beams`to operate. The charging means feed the coal as the rate offgas makingrequires. The agitator plays vertically on the coal, pressing thereon byits ownweight (and addltional weight if desired) and `harrows thesurface of the fire withthe result hereinbefore stated. The ash beams,at the same time, sweep over the grate, causing the ash and coal torotate with the section 16 (and thereby allowing the producer to beconstructed of any desired diameter Without deterioration in operation)and wipingthe excess ash into the trough 57. The ash in the trough whichis always full holds up body section, charging the fire at the pointover the trough and the screw 58 is operated continuously or otherwiseas to remove the ashes as required.`

The modification shown in Fig; i) contemplates a change in the agitatorby which the horizontal member 30a is carried by a single central stem231". This type of agitator is held from excessive rotation by a screwthread 66 on the upper' end of the stem 31a above the top and working ona nut (57 secured to the top, or to a suitable support on or above thesame. The twisting effort on the agitator tends to rotate the stem andthe screw and nut resist this rotation. But extreme strain causes thescrew to raise in the nut, raising the agitatorand its attachments in orout of the coal. This, however,relie,ves the coal strain on the agitatorand it then drops back to its former or lower position or near the same.Thus the agitator is automatically kept in a mobile state at itspredetermined relative level in or on the surface of the coal,regardless of the varying height of the top of the fuel.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A gas producer witha rotating lower devices on the upper body section, .an agitator freelymovable, vertically and bearing its weight on the coal a stationarygrate under the lower section means below the 'grate to remove theashes, an arm lying over the grate and moving With the lower section tosweep the ashes over the same and discharge them to the means forremoving them, and draft current'means discharging through the grate.

2. A gas producer having a rotating Wall, a stationary grate, meansdischarging a draft current,` through the grate, .a beam across therotating Wall and moving over the grate, and an ash pit under and radialof the grateyinto which the ashes are swept by the beam. V

3. A gas` producer, having a grate provided With a relatively large ashopening within tsoutline at the level of the grate, and means relativelyrotatable with regard to the grate sweepi g over the grate to move theash over t e opening.

41. A `gas producer having a` grate provided wlth an opening to the ashpit, the opening being in part of the surface of the grate, means todeliver a forced draft through another part of the grate, and meanssweeping over the grate to deliver the ashes to said opening.

5.A gas producer having a grate provided with a relatively large radialopening to receive the ash, means for delivering a forced draft toanother portion of the "'said section over the. tace oi the grate todeliver the. ash to said opening. f

7. gas producer having a rotating body section to car-ry the coal andashes, a grate. under the section with an ash outlet. a beam in thelower part of the section and sweeping over the face of the grate, anagitator playing on top* ot' the coal and means for imparting relativehorizontal rotation to the. agitator and coal.

'8. A gas producer having a body to carry the coal and ashes. a grate atthe base of' the body. a member in the lower part of said body adaptedto sweep the g ate. an agitator in the body7 playing freely verticallyat the top of the coal and means for causing relative rotary or turningmovement between the grate and said member, and the agitator and thecoal.

9. A gas producer having a body to carry the coal and ashes. a member inthe lower part of the fuel bed to operate on the. ashes, means t'ordriving said member. an agitator in the body playing freely verticallyat the top of the coal. and means t'or causing relative rotary orturning movement between the agitator and the coal, said movement beingsymhronous with the operation ot' the member to operate on the ashes.

10. A gas producer having a body, charging devices at the upper partthereof, an agitator playing freely vertically on the coal, means tocause relative horizontal travel between the coal and agitator, astationary grate. means below the grate to remove the ashes. a memberoverlying the grate and movable to sweep the ashes over the same anddischarge them to the ash-removal means and means to operate said membersynchronously with the said means to cause relative horizontal travelbetween the coal and agitator.

ll. gas producer having a body. charging devices at the upper partthereof, an agitator playing freely vertically on the coal, means tocause relative horizontal travel between the coal and agitator. astationary grate, means below the grate to remove thel ashes. a memberoverlying the grate and movable to sweep the ashes over the same anddischarge them to the ash-removal means and means to operate saidmember,

and said ash-removal means synchronously with the said means to causerelative horizontal travel between the coal and agitator.

12. A gas producer having a body to carry the coal and ashes, a grate atthe base of the body, a member in the lower part of said body adapted tosweep the grate. an agitator in they body section playing freelyverticali)- at the top ot the coal. means for causing relative rotary orturning movement between the grate land said member and the agitator ot`the coal. and means for removing the ash from below the grate alsooperating synchronously with the agitator devices.

13. A gas producer having a rotating body section, a grate below it witha radial ash opening, and a beam rotating with the body section andsweeping over the tace of' the grate, tor the. purpose specified.

l-t. gas producer havinga flat grate with an ash discharge opening init. a beam sweeping over the tace ot the grate. and a rotating exteriorproducer-wall oined to the beam. Jr'or the purpose specified.

15. gas producer having a grate with an ash discharge opening and a pitbelow the opening, arotary body section over the grate. a beam locatedover the gratel to throw the ash into the. pit. an agitator playing ontop of the coal and means for imparting relative horizontal motionbetween the agitator and coal and bet.\'een said beam and the coal.

lf3. A gas producer having a base. with an ash pit in it.. a rotary bodysection above the base. a water seal cup on the base adapted to dip intowater in the ash pit to seal it. and a complementary seal member on thebody section dipping into the cup.

1T. In a gas producer the combination of a fiat horizontal grate formedof a number ot crooked or bent plates set on and ovellapping each otherin the same plane with air orifices between them and a member lying oversaid grate and adapted to sweep the same t'or the purpose specified. m

18. A gas producer having a grateimconcentric piers upon which the grateis placed, the piers forming separate draft current chambers betweenthem and means for snpplying the draft current to said chambers.

1f). A gas producer having piers forming draft current chambers. ash pitwalls extending through said chambers. thI ash pit not comn'iunicatingwith the draft current chambers. and a grate over the piers and pit andformed with an opening through which the ashes pass to the pit. Y

20. gas producer having a gate. a rotary body section above it andcruci-form ash beams attached to the body section and sweeping over thegrate.

2l. A gas producer with a grate having an ash discharge opening, arotary body section above the grate, an ash beam extending across thebody and sweeping over the tace. off the grate, anda horizontal agitatorplaying on top of the coal in said body section.

22. A gas producer having a moving e `cally stroke between the arms ofthe beam cruci-'form ash beam anda dogto periodi- -for thepurpose-specified.;

horizontally on top of the 'coal in e. 23. A gas producer', with asubstantially fiat horizontal grate formed of a number of platescontacting lwith' and over-lapping each other the Iplateslying inthesame plane with air orifices between themand means to sweep over thegrate -to remove the ashes.

24. A'gas producer, with a substantially flat grate formed of a numberof plates contacting with and over-lapping each other the plates lyingin the same plane with air ori-4 fices between them, the gratev havinga'larger4 orifice for the discharge of the ashes and a x member adaptedtosweep over the grate and said larger `orifice lfor the ,purpose4specisubstantially 26. A gas producer having a body to carry the coaland ashes, an agitator adapted to lie said body,

a grate at the base of the body,A amember in lthe lower part of the body,and extending."

for causing rela-` over the grate and means tive rotary motion of theagitator-and coal v l for receiving the fuel i 40 and of the grate andsaidmember, said relative rotary motions 4being in unison with leachother and with the rate of gasification Vof the fuel.

27. A gas producer having a body part and a base part hav.-

a grate'supported ngan ash pit therein, e from said base portion andhaving a` rela-` tively large opening in communication with the ashpit,'and means above said grate and a number of adapted to be buried inthe lower. part of.

. the fuel bed for effecting relative rotation between the ash 'in said,fuel bed and the grate, whereby the ash will drop through the vopeninginto said ash pit.

28. A gas producer having a basepart A' provided with substantiallyconcentric annula-r piers, a grate supported by said piers, andregulatable forced draft inlets leading respectivelyto the chambersformed between said piers.

29. A gas producer having a base part provided with substantiallyconcentric annular piers, a grate .supported by said piers, andregulatable forceddraft inlets :leading respectively to the chambersformed between said. piers, said 4grate having an ash receiv-4 ingopening, and said base part having walls `providing an ashpitincommunication with said o erung.

a grate made up overlapping plates with their 30. n a gas producer, ofradiating,

.overlapping parts in contact with each other,

said plates having recesses between their overlapping parts to provideradiating air admitting orifices, and a beam sweeping over said grate toremove'the ash therefrom. 31. VIn a\gas producer, a grate, an ashsweeping member adapted to be buried in the lower art of the fuel bedadjacent the upper surface of said grate, said grate and said memberbeing relatively rotatable, and said'grate .being provided witharelatively large ash receiving 4opening 4whereby said member sweeps theash to'said opening,- an ash pit located benathsaid opening, andmechanical means4 for removingash from said pit. A

-In testimony whereof I have `hereunto signed my namel in the presenceoftwo witnespses. y

"Witnesses: i

rGrimes DARLING,

BRUCE W. CHAPMAN.

BQ CHAPMAN;

